Luck, wisdom, and desperation all play an important part in forcing the hand of cinema in new directions. A little over a decade ago, a small handful of streaming platforms were pushing for viability in […]
PRESTON FASSEL DOESN’T LIKE ‘ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD’
Grumpire 19, once upon a time in hollywood 0 For this episode, we’re going retro. Thanks to guest Preston Fassel, we have two films considered to be masterful Hollywood period pieces — one is just […]
GRUMPYR PRESENTS: MIXTAPE FROM HELL
When we asked the enigmatic Bradley J. Kornish of the cult film podcast and website Movies From Hell if he’d be interested in compiling a Halloween playlist for us, he came back with a mix […]
HAIR HELMETS & POLKA DOTS: THE CORNY AUTHENTICITY OF ‘BACK TO THE BEACH’
“Not many people can cha cha chaNot everybody can do the twistBut everybody can do the SkaIt’s the new dance you can’t resist” ~ old Jamaican proverb* A woman and man are walking hand in […]
End of Summer Blues Are for Bloody Mayhem and Gooey Sea Creatures: ‘Humanoids from the Deep’ Revisited
Summer is not over. Yes, there are only two weeks left before autumn officially begins, but by the time the Labor Day long weekend is over, most people have switched to fall sensibilities—though I implore […]
SUMMER NEVER DIES WHEN YOU’RE A GRUMP
Labor Day is traditionally the “end of summer” but as the fall approaches and many of you are dreaming in pumpkin spice, we here at Grumpire HQ aren’t ready to let go of the endless […]
NEW IN ACTION: JULY/AUGUST 2022
Join The Grumps as we bring you a selection of what’s new and now in the Action genre. Strap in for Round-house Round-Up! From Elbee: THE PRINCESS (2022) [NEW ON HULU] Form = Function in […]
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: XTREME!
Nothing makes parents happier than teaching their children to love Horror. Just visit any Horror convention and you’ll see toddlers dressed as Freddy Krueger holding hands with their father and his Art The Clown forearm […]
MIXTAPE: SHOEGAZE FOR SUMMER
Shoegaze might have a reputation for being gloomy, dejected, and wintry, but with this post, I’m here to argue that there’s no better style of music for a day at the beach than shoegaze. Just […]
‘INDEPENDENCE DAY’: AN EXPLICATION OF A ’90S SCI-FI BLOCKBUSTER; OR, JAY LOSES A BET
Author’s note: Thanks to a foolish wager on an NBA playoff series, this article you’re now reading exists. I have no business making friendly wagers on professional sports, as I always bet with my heart […]
NEW IN ACTION: MAY/JUNE 2022
Join The Grumps as we bring you a selection of what’s new and now in the Action genre. Strap in for Round-house Round-Up! From Andrew: THE TAKEDOWN (2022) [NEW ON NETFLIX] Director Louis Leterrier came […]
DEATH IS A RUNNING TAP: ‘STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER’
Why is it that when fans of Italian giallo talk excitedly about the genre, people are quick to find an exit? Is it because they don’t want to be subjected to a one-sided conversation about […]
TAFFETA DOESN’T LIKE THE BIG LEBOWSKI
Grumpire 18, The Big Lebowski 0 Welcome to our 4/20 special! Never mind what the actual date is, it’s always 4/20 somewhere, and how better to celebrate than talking over a couple of egregiously smoke-friendly […]
‘THE MATADOR’: WHEN MASCULINITY AND VULNERABILITY COME TOGETHER
Jarred by a nightmare, a middle-aged man wakes up in a panic. He’s in a hotel, an empty bottle next to him and a passed-out woman sharing his bed. Obviously distressed, he puts his hand […]
MIXTAPE: FRIDAY THE 13TH 2022
Friday The 13th, of all the pseudo-holidays, continues to hold a strong grip on our cultural imagination. It doesn’t hurt that the beloved horror franchise by the same name has such an iconic killer to […]